Rules and Regulations

Rules of The Hertfordshire Presidents’ Cup,

Tankard and Trophy Competitions

1. Presidents’ Cup: Entry will be advised to the Hertfordshire Affiliated Clubs in the RFU League Structure who concluded the preceeding season in the top eight of Hertfordshire Clubs. The Competition is for second teams at level 5 and above and first teams at level 6 and below. The draw will be made by 30th June each year by the Competitions Committee without any seeding. This will be advise to the fixture secretaries of the clubs concerned immediately together with the playing dates, so that they may be inserted into Club Fixture Books. Entry is not compulsory and any Club not wishing to enter must advise the organiser by the 1st September.

Presidents’ Tankard: Entry will be advised to the Hertfordshire Affiliated Clubs in the RFU league Structure who concluded the preceeding season in 9th to 16th place amongst Hertfordshire Clubs. The Competition is for First Teams of those Clubs. The draw will be made by the 30th June each year by the Competitions Committee without any seeding. This will be advised to the Fixture Secretary of the Clubs concerned immediately together with the playing dates so that they may be inserted into Club Fixture Books. Entry is not compulsory and any Club not wishing to enter must advise the organiser by the 1st September.

Presidents’ Trophy: Entry will be advised on October 1st from all those affiliated Hertfordshire Clubs who did not finish in the top 16 Hertfordshire Clubs in the RFU League system. Entry is open to the first teams of Clubs irrespective of whether they are a League Club or a Merit Table Club. The draw will be made by the Competitions Committee to allow the lower Clubs to play each other in the early round before conducting an open draw with the winners from the early round and the stronger Clubs at the next round. The dates of the four rounds will be advised to fixture secretaries at the 1st July for insertion in to Club fixture books. Entry is not compulsory and any Club not wishing to enter must advise the Organiser by 21st October.

Entry rules have changed on an experimental basis to take account of changing times. The Cup is open to Hertfordshire Affiliated Clubs in the National Leagues of the RFU League System to enter their Second Teams and Hertfordshire affiliated Clubs at Level 6 in the RFU League system to enter their First Teams. The Tankard is open to all those Hertfordshire Affiliated Clubs at levels 7 and 8 of the RFU League System. The Trophy is open to all remaining Hertfordshire Affiliated Clubs participating in the RFU League System. Merit Table Clubs first teams are not prevented from entering the Trophy Competition but all currently choose not to enter when it is pointed out that the HertsMiddx Merit Tables give them a knockout Competition towards the end of each season.

2. The Competition will be organised by a sub-committee appointed by the general committee.

3. All matches shall be played in accordance with the laws, bye-laws and

Resolutions of the Rugby Football Union.

4. Draw: All Clubs in each round will be drawn in sequence, the first drawn club

In each pair being the home team. Byes may be placed in the draw for any round where appropriate, in order to ensure that the correct number of teams take part in the subsequent round. However there will be no seeding in any round. In the Presidents’ Trophy the draw for each round prior to the semi finals will be made by the organising committee in accordance with the guidelines set out in rule 1. All matches in each round must be completed prior to the date (or slip date) of the next round, even if it means playing on the same weekend as an RFU Competition match.

(Note the dates for each round shall be determined under the provisions of rule 10).

5. Player Eligibility: (a) Eligibility shall be as for the English Clubs Rugby Union Championship. (b) Non League Clubs (ie those not involved in (a) may only play or select as a replacement, bona fide and regular playing members who do not hold effective registration with any league club. (c) Once a player has played for one Club in any of the three Competitions during that season then he may not play for another Club in any of the three competitions during that season. (d) Any infringement of either (a), (b) or (c) above will result in the automatic disqualification from the Competitions for that season of the player and the club involved.

6. Replacement Regulations: (a) Not more than 4 replacement players in attendance. (b) At least 5 players must be able to play in front row positions.

If less than 4 replacements then 4 Players must be able to play in front row positions.

7. Match Card: Clubs must make a return of the result and their teams including replacements to the secretary of the organising sub-committee. If no match card is available then use a piece of paper. It is important that the Referee be identified and that he signs for the result.

8. Colours: In the case of a clash of colours, the home team shall change. If a

Clash of colours (playing Shirt) is likely to occur in the final the organising

Committee will toss a coin to decide on which team is required to change

Colour.

9. Extra Time: (a) In all rounds except the final, if after 40 minutes of

Play each way the scores are level there shall be an immediate period of replay

Between the same teams of 10 minutes each way with a 1 minute interval. If the scores are then still equal the team that has scored the most tries shall go forward into the next round. If this does not produce a result then the team that has scored the most goals from tries goes forward into the next round. If the scores are still equal then the visiting team shall go forward to the next round. (b) In the finals if after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are level There shall be an immediate period of replay between the same teams of 10 minutes each way, with a 1 minute interval. If the scores are then still equal the team that has scored the most tries shall be the winner. If this does not produce a result then the team that has scored the most goals from tries shall be the winner. If no result is then achieved, play will continue with a change of ends every 5 minutes and the first to score shall be the winner.

10. Rounds of the Competition: (a) All rounds of the competition shall be played as determined by the organising sub-committee. These dates shall be published at the forum Meeting immediately following the Annual General Meeting of the Hertfordshire Rugby Football Union. The finals shall be played on a ground decided by the organising sub-committee. (b) All matches prior to the finals, will be played on Sunday afternoon of weekends designated in (a) above unless both clubs mutually agree to play at another time. Such mutual agreement shall be notified to the organising sub-committee at least 5 days prior to the designated date. (c) In the event of any game not being played or abandoned the replay shall unless otherwise determined by the organising sub-committee, take place as soon as practically possible.

(d) Abandoned matches: (1) If a match is abandoned because of weather conditions when 60 or more minutes have not been played, it shall be replayed as directed by the organising sub-committee. (11) If a match is abandoned because of weather conditions when sixty or more minutes have been played the score at the moment of abandonment shall stand and shall be deemed the final score of the match. The Referee’s decision as to the necessity for abandonment and the number of minutes played at the moment of abandonment shall be final.

11. All referees in the Competition will be appointed by the HSRFUR.

12. Each Club will be required to provide a Touch Judge for all rounds prior to the semi final rounds. The HSRFUR will supply appointed Referees and touch Judges for the semi finals and finals.

13. The winners of the Finals are to hold the Cup Tankard or Trophy for one year and shall be responsible for their engraving and safe custody.

14. Disputes and Transgressions: Any matters in dispute or any transgressions

Of these rules shall be referred immediately to the secretary of the organising sub –committee by email. The organising sub-committee shall have an absolute

Discretion to resolve any such protests or disputes as it shall think fit and may decline to act upon a protest validly made if it considers doing so to be in the best interests of the competition generally.

The decision of the organising sub-committee shall be final and binding on all parties.